JPH0763954A - Optical connecting member - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To connect optical fiber ribbons with a simple one part and to enable miniaturization by fixing optical fiber groups respectively with their ends exposed into respective optical fiber positioning grooves, then subjecting the coupling end faces of the optical fibers of the respective groups to polishing. CONSTITUTION:Both coupling end faces of a ferrule to be coupled to an optical connector 7 are provided with the groups 1, 2 having respectively >=2 pieces of a group of the optical fiber positioning grooves a, b. The ferrule has guide pins 3, 3' for exactly positioning the optical fiber groups, guide holes 4, 4' for insertion of the guide pins and a difference in level 5 helpful for preventing bending of the optical fibers. The optical fiber groups respectively with their ends exposed are fixed into the respective optical fiber positioning grooves a, b and thereafter the coupling end faces of the optical fibers of the respective groups are polished. The pitch width of at least two groups of the optical fiber positioning grooves a, b vary preferably from each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has two or more groups of optical fiber positioning grooves of one group and two or more on each of two or more coupling end faces of a ferrule to be coupled with an optical connector.
Moreover, the present invention relates to an optical connecting member which is advantageous for connecting optical fiber tapes having different pitch widths and / or arrangements.

More specifically, the optical connecting member of the present invention relates to an integrated and miniaturized optical connecting member which is particularly effective for connecting optical fibers having different pitch widths and / or arrangements.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for connecting optical fiber tapes having different pitch widths, for example, an optical fiber tape having a pitch width of 0.25 mm and an optical fiber tape having a pitch width of 0.2 mm, as shown in FIG. In addition, the conversion cord 20 in which the optical connectors a, b: 21, 22 having different fiber pitch widths are connected to each other by the optical fiber tape is used.

However, in such a conversion cord 20, since it is necessary to connect the optical connectors to each other by an optical fiber tape without fail, the conversion cord 20 itself tends to be long, and its handling tends to be lacking, and it is integrated with the miniaturization thereof. It was desired. Further, in an optical fiber tape, there are cases where optical fiber groups having different pitch widths and arrangements are connected or the end face of an optical connector is inclined, and an optical connection member capable of coping with such various cases has been desired. .

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide two or more optical fiber positioning grooves of one group on two or more coupling end faces of a ferrule to be coupled with an optical connector. Provided is a miniaturized optical connection member capable of connecting an optical fiber tape with one simple component, which can easily cope with different pitch widths and / or arrangements and tilted end faces of optical connectors. To do.

[0006]

That is, according to the present invention: a ferrule to be coupled with an optical connector has two or more groups of two or more optical fiber positioning grooves, one group each on each of two or more coupling end surfaces. Further, an optical connecting member is provided, in which an optical fiber group whose end is exposed is fixed to each of the optical fiber positioning grooves, and then the coupling end surface of the optical fiber of each group is polished. Another feature is that at least two groups of optical fiber positioning grooves have different pitch widths. Also,

It is also characterized in that it can be coupled to an optical connector, which is coupled by two or more guide pins, and the optical fibers are positioned and arranged with respect to two or more optical fiber positioning pores. Further, it is also characterized in that it is manufactured by molding an optical connection component provided with an optical fiber positioning groove. Moreover, the coupling end face of the optical fiber group is 8 with respect to the optical fiber axis.
It is also characterized by having an inclination of 5 ° or less.

The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In Fig. 1, (a) shows the insertion of an optical fiber.
It is a perspective view of the ferrule showing the state of positioning with the guide pin before fixing.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view of the groove portions when the positioning groove has a different fiber pitch width and the arrangement is the same after fixing.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1 and 2 respectively denote two or more groups of two or more optical fiber positioning grooves a and b in one group on both coupling end faces of a ferrule to be coupled with an optical connector. When manufacturing the optical connecting member by molding, the optical fiber group in which the end portion of the optical fiber tape is exposed is inserted and fixed in b. Reference numerals 3 and 3 ′ are guide pins for accurately positioning the optical fiber group, 4 and 4 ′ are guide holes for inserting the guide pins, and 5 is a step which helps prevent the bending of the optical fibers. , 7 are optical connecting members obtained from the novel ferrule of the present invention.

In this case, the optical fiber positioning groove a,
The shape of b is not particularly limited as long as the optical fiber group can be inserted and fixed, but is generally a V groove, a round groove, or the like. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 1- (a) and 1- (b), the optical connecting member of the present invention has a group of two or more optical fiber positioning V-grooves on both coupling end faces of the ferrule to be coupled with the optical connector. a, b; 1, 1 ', 2 and 2'have two or more groups, each having a different pitch width and / or arrangement, or a connector end face having an inclination can be easily dealt with.

As a result, an optical fiber group whose end is exposed is attached to two or more groups of each optical fiber positioning groove a, b; The optical connecting member 7 of the present invention is manufactured by positioning with two or more guide pins 3 and 3'that can be coupled, molding with a sealing material, and polishing the coupling end face of the optical fiber.

FIG. 2 shows an optical connecting member (2-core connector × 2).
Shows an optical connecting member (connector) that can be connected to the optical connecting member (2 core connector × 2), although the arrangement of the optical fibers is partially changed (6a, 6a ′), but the pitch width of the optical fibers is the same ( It is a schematic diagram which shows the optical connection member of 1, 1 '= 2, 2'). In this case, as shown in (a), eight ferrules are arranged on four ferrules so that they can be connected to the four optical connectors, and they serve as an adapter for switching the arrangement of the two optical connectors. . That is, the optical fiber positioning grooves a, b;
Of the fixed optical fibers 6, the arrangement of the optical fibers 6a and 6a 'is changed, but the arrangement of the other optical fibers 6b and 6b' is not changed, and the positioning V-grooves 1 and 1 for inserting the optical fibers are inserted. The pitch widths of '2, 2'are all the plan view when the pitch widths are the same.

FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the optical connecting member 7 of the present invention obtained by the arrangement of FIG. Figure 2
In (b), eight guide pins 3 were arranged in the guide groove 9 in the optical connecting member 7, and the optical fiber was inserted and fixed in the positioning groove according to the arrangement of (a).

FIG. 3 shows an optical connecting member (2-core connector × 2).
Shows an optical connection member (connector) that can be connected to an optical connection member (4 core connector x 1), and the arrangement of the optical fibers is the same, but the pitch widths of the optical fibers are different (1, 1 ').
It is a schematic diagram of ≠ 2). In FIG. 3, the optical connecting member (connector) of the present invention has two groups, one group and two grooves, which are connectable to the optical connecting members (two-core connector × 2) 7a, 7b on one coupling end surface of this connector. Of the optical fiber positioning grooves a, b; 1, 1 ', and one group of four grooves which can be combined with the optical connecting member (4 core connector x 1) 7'on the other coupling end surface. Has an optical fiber positioning groove 2,
Plastic molding as in the method shown in FIG. 2 above,
The optical connecting member 7 shown in the perspective view of (b) was manufactured.

FIG. 4A is a schematic view showing a state in which the end faces of the optical connecting member and the optical connector are obliquely polished to facilitate the connection with the optical connector, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing that the end surfaces of the optical fibers can be spliced to have an inclination of 85 ° or less with respect to the optical fiber axis and can be connected without applying grease. In FIG. 4, 6
Reference numerals a and 6b are optical fibers connected to the optical connectors 7a and 7b, 7 is a pitch conversion optical connecting member of the present invention, and 8 is an optical fiber axis.

As a material constituting the optical connecting member of the present invention, a material having high heat resistance and dimensional stability such as epoxy resin containing an inorganic filler such as glass fiber is preferable. As the adhesive used for fixing the optical fiber arranged in the optical connecting member of the present invention, an epoxy resin having high heat resistance and dimensional stability is preferable. As molding means used for molding the optical connecting member of the present invention, transfer molding, injection molding and the like are preferable.

[0017]

The present invention will be described in more detail by way of examples based on the drawings, but these do not limit the scope of the present invention. First, an optical connecting member as shown in FIG. 1 is manufactured by transfer molding using an epoxy resin material containing a glass filler excellent in dimensional stability and heat resistance using upper and lower molds.

(Manufacturing Example 1) The coating of the end portion of the optical fiber group constituting the optical fiber tape is removed, and a ferrule as shown in FIG. 1 (a) is used. The optical fiber is inserted and fixed in the positioning grooves a, b: 1, 2 having a fiber pitch width, and the upper part (optical fiber retainer) made of the same epoxy resin material containing glass filler as the material of the optical connecting member main body Hold it down. At this time, the upper part of the optical fiber has a positioning groove a,
b: Make it stick out from 1 and 2. An optical connecting member 7 having an optical fiber bonded was manufactured by molding with an encapsulating material having excellent heat resistance and dimensional stability such as epoxy resin. Further, in the above case, since the optical fiber may be bent due to the different pitch width, the step 5 is provided between the positioning grooves a and b so that the optical fiber can be easily followed.

(Manufacturing Example 2) As in Manufacturing Example 1, FIG.
An optical connecting member 7 having the same pitch width of the optical fibers was manufactured, although the arrangement of the optical fibers was partially changed as shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, each of the four ferrules is provided with eight guide pins, and the obtained optical connection member 7 serves as an adapter for interchanging the arrangement of the two optical connectors. More specifically, in the second manufacturing example, the arrangement of the optical fibers 6a and 6a ′ among the optical fibers inserted / fixed in the optical fiber positioning grooves a and b is changed, but the other optical fibers 6b and 6b 'is an example in which the arrangement is not changed, and the pitch width of each optical fiber is the same.

(Manufacturing Example 3) As in Manufacturing Example 1, FIG.
As shown in (a), the optical connecting member (2
The optical connector has two groups of optical fiber positioning grooves 1 and 1'having two grooves for one group which can be connected to the core connector, two pieces 7a and 7b, and an optical connecting member (four-core connector, 1
1) A group of optical fiber positioning grooves 2 having a group of 4 grooves that can be coupled to A wiring diagram in which the optical connecting member of the present invention is manufactured by molding and the optical fiber is fixed in the V groove is shown in (b).

[0021]

As described above, two or more optical fiber positioning grooves for one group are provided on each of two or more coupling end faces of the ferrule to be combined with the optical connector, and the optical fiber positioning grooves are provided with optical fibers. By fixing the fiber group,
Even if the pitch width and / or the arrangement is different, or the end face of the optical connector is inclined, it can be easily dealt with, and since these optical connection members can be manufactured by molding, the cost is low.
A miniaturized optical connection member can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 (a) is a perspective view of a ferrule showing a state of positioning with a guide pin before inserting / fixing an optical fiber, and FIG. 1 (b) is a positioning diagram after inserting / fixing an optical fiber. FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the groove portions when the groove pitch is different and the arrangement is the same.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an optical connecting member of the present invention in which the arrangement of optical fibers is partially changed but the pitch widths of the optical fibers are the same.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an optical connecting member (connector) of the present invention obtained by molding capable of being combined with an optical connecting member (2 core connector × 2) and an optical connecting member (4 core connector × 1). .

FIG. 4A is a schematic view showing a state in which the end faces of the optical connecting member and the optical connector are obliquely polished to facilitate the connection with the optical connector, and FIG. 4B shows the end face. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing that the connection can be made without polishing by applying an inclination to the optical fiber axis and polishing.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pitch width conversion cord in which conventional optical connectors are connected with an optical fiber tape.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1'optical fiber positioning groove a 2, 2'optical fiber positioning groove b 3, 3'guide pin 3a, 3b; 3c, 3d guide pin 4, 4'guide hole 5 step 6a, 6a '; 6b, 6b 'optical fiber 7 optical connection member (connector) 7a, 7b; 7c, 7d; 7'optical connection member 8 optical fiber shaft 9 guide groove 20 conversion code 21, 22 optical connector a, b

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Makoto Honjo, Makoto Honjo, 1 Taya-cho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Yokohama Works (72) Ichiro Tsuchiya, 1 Taya-cho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Sumitomo Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Yokohama Works (72) Inventor Toru Yamanishi 1 Tayacho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Sumitomo Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Yokohama Works (72) Inventor Shinji Nagasawa 1-1, Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 6 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A ferrule that is combined with an optical connector.
Two or more groups of two or more optical fiber positioning grooves are provided in each of the one or more coupling end faces, and the optical fiber groups whose end portions are exposed are fixed to the respective optical fiber positioning grooves. After that, the optical connecting member is characterized in that the coupling end faces of the optical fibers of each group are polished. 2. The optical connecting member according to claim 1, wherein at least two groups of optical fiber positioning grooves have different pitch widths. 3. Connecting with two or more guide pins, and 2
The optical connection member according to claim 1, wherein the optical connection member is formed by positioning and arranging the optical fibers with respect to the plurality of optical fiber positioning pores, and is connectable to an optical connector. 4. The optical connection member according to claim 1, wherein the optical connection member is manufactured by molding an optical connection component provided with an optical fiber positioning groove. 5. The optical connecting member according to claim 4, wherein the coupling end surface of the optical fiber group has an inclination of 85 ° or less with respect to the optical fiber axis.